davidmcowan

Hey all,

Quick question, I got a new stem or head for my Novara Mountain bike. When I went to screw down the head into the fork (star nut) it turned out my new stem was longer and the screw wouldn't reach. When I brought the screw into the shop they told me they come in pretty much one size and that I should replace the starnut so it is closer to the top of the fork's tube. I did that and it still didn't reach! So my temporary solution has been to remove the compression ring so it fits. I won't ride it like this but I don't know what I can do to remedy the situation. Any expertise out there that can help guide me?

-Thanks a bunch
Dave

Svr

Bike shop guys are pretty much idiots. (I've got 10+ years of experience working in bike shops, and it takes one to know one.)

You'll need to find a longer M6x1 allen head bolt. These bolts are available from various sources in just about any length.

davidmcowan

various sources? Ace Hardware?

davidmcowan

p.s. By the way that really pisses me off!! Do you know how much trouble I went through to put that star nut in without the right tool? It gave me some serious problems!

Svr

The Ace hardware stores near me stock metric hardware, it may be a good place to start.

nik

David,

To install the star nut in the future without the proper tool, I've been using this technique that works great:

Get a narrow philips head screwdriver and slide the whole blade through star nut so the hilt of the screwdriver is resting on the top set of metal "fingers". Use a hammer to tap on top of the screwdriver until the lower set of fingers are in the headtube and the top set is resting on the rim. Now thread the allen bolt in the star nut and tap the bolt with the hammer until the star nut is down the headtube far enough. I like using the screwdriver first so I can guide the star nut in straighter.

davidmcowan

Wanna hear my method? I used one of the sockets from my socket wrench that was just a little smaller than my tube. I used the bolt to bolt the socket to the starnutand then hammered on the bolt which helped it get in there even steven.

mactheknife68

What you may need to do is remove some of the spacers under the stem. Unless Ive totally misread yer problem, that screw was long enuf for yer old stem, rite? And by "longer" you mean the stem is taller, thereby covering a larger section of fork steerer? You should have a small gap of about 3mm from the top of the fork steerer to the top of the stem opening, otherwise yer stem bolts may not clamp the fork steerer properly. Is yer new stem a double or single bolt clamp? Be careful that the top bolt doesnt crimp the fork at the top. Replacing a 5mm spacer with a 2.5 may solve the issue. No way should you have replace yer star nut unless it got drove down the tube(how I dont know) or is stripped out. Take it to the LBS and remove/replace spacers til you have the approriate gap. While yer there have LBS check star nut depth with the nut setter they should have.